Cheap solution can protect plants from birds

The landscape of US retail is such that there are dollar stores everywhere, but finding sources for row cover and gardening supplies takes some effort. What if you could buy your gardening supplies at the dollar store? Would that be too good to be true?

You know those pop up nylon laundry hampers? They're made of a large spring, and are covered in nylon mesh. Robyn says that she paid $8 for her nylon mesh laundry hamper, but a commenter said that she's seen collapsible hampers at the Dollar Tree for $1 each. A whole bunch of "reputable" online retailers are selling collapsible nylon laundry hampers for at least $10 each. For your garden, just go to the dollar store and buy the generic second-rate bulk commodity ones.

Now here is how to substitute a collapsible nylon mesh laundry basket for row cover: Open up the hamper so that it's fully extended. Turn it upside down. Place it over the plant that you want to protect. You can place it on the ground to cover the entire pot and plant, or you can balance it on the rim of the pot if the pot is the same diameter as the hamper.

While overturned hampers would be hard to cover whole rows of plants with, they're a perfect fit for container gardens. Thanks to Robyn from Phoenix and all the handymen and ladies on Hometalk.com for the foregoing ideas.